Al Killeffer
Power & Controls
Sustainability
Toulouse, France (July 23, 2019) – Collins Aerospace Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), has completed the first cockpit modernization of fourteen contracted Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules for the French Air Force. Collins Aerospace plays a central role in the on-going certification flight test campaign, in Bordeaux-Mérignac, France.
The aircraft is equipped with the Collins Aerospace Flight2™ avionics solution and the industry-leading dual HGS-4500 Head-Up Guidance (HGS) with EVS-3000 multispectral enhanced vision system to improve pilot situational awareness. An electro-optical infrared camera for asset detection is also integrated into the HGS. Together these solutions further enhance C-130H operational capabilities to support specific mission requirements.
“Modernizing to the Flight2 system provides the French Air Force with the latest generation of avionics and optimized support and maintenance solutions to complete demanding missions all over the world,” said Olivier Pedron, managing director, Avionics for Collins Aerospace in France.
Following the first flight and qualification of the first two aircraft by the French Armament General Directorate (Direction Générale de l’Armement, DGA) Collins Aerospace, together with Sabena Technics, will deliver modification kits to the Service Industriel de l’Aéronautique (SIAé) to complete the installation on the remaining 12 French C-130Hs in the fleet.
Awarded by the DGA in September 2016, Collins Aerospace is the prime contractor, in accordance with its FRA-21J capability, together with its partners Lockheed Martin and Sabena Technics.
With Flight2™, the C-130H will comply with the most recent International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, equipping it with a tactical advantage in both military operations and civil airspace environments. In addition, Flight2 provides commonality for optimized support and maintenance across other French Air Force platforms such as E-3, AWACS, KC-135 and HUD commonality on the C-130J.
Collins Aerospace has delivered over 2,900 Flight2 solutions for military fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. Additionally, 371 C-130 aircraft have been upgraded, or are on contract to be upgraded, with the Flight2 solution. More legacy C-130 aircraft have been fitted with Collins’ avionics than any other single provider in the world.
The Flight2 integrated avionics solution has received a certificate of design by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, the C-130 Hercules original equipment manufacturer.
About Collins Aerospace
Collins Aerospace, a unit of Raytheon Technologies Corp., is a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry. Collins Aerospace has the extensive capabilities, comprehensive portfolio and broad expertise to solve customers’ toughest challenges and to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global market. For more information, visit CollinsAerospace.com.
About Raytheon Technologies
Raytheon Technologies Corporation is an aerospace and defense company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. With 195,000 employees and four industry-leading businesses ― Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon Intelligence & Space and Raytheon Missiles & Defense ― the company delivers solutions that push the boundaries in avionics, cybersecurity, directed energy, electric propulsion, hypersonics, and quantum physics. The company, formed in 2020 through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Al Killeffer
Power & Controls
Sustainability
Joel Girdner
Interior Systems
Hervé Tilloy
Europe and the Middle East
JB Brindle
Avionics
Connected Aviation Solutions
Linus Terh
Asia Pacific
Liz Maddy
Mission Systems
Lori O'Donley
Advanced Structures
Erin Callender
Director, Global Media Relations